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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Sydney

Highest level of schooling

In Greater Sydney, 64.5% of people aged over 15 years had completed Year 12 schooling (or equivalent) as of 2021. This was greater than Australia.

Greater Sydney's school completion data is a useful indicator of socio-economic status. With other indicators, such as Proficiency in English, the data informs planners and decision-makers about people's ability to access services. Combined with Educational Qualifications it also allows assessment of the skill base of the population.

Learn more about planning education provision here.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?'

Highest level of secondary schooling completed
Greater Sydney - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Level of schoolingNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2016 to 2021
Year 8 or below147,2533.53.9161,2184.14.8-13,965
Year 9 or equivalent181,5864.35.2187,6014.85.6-6,015
Year 10 or equivalent657,31615.417.9670,10317.119.2-12,787
Year 11 or equivalent210,1684.98.7197,8345.09.1+12,334
Year 12 or equivalent2,753,27964.556.82,353,16160.051.9+400,118
Did not go to school63,4591.51.053,0121.40.9+10,447
Not stated254,8896.06.6300,7667.78.6-45,877
Total persons aged 15+4,267,950100.0100.03,923,695100.0100.0+344,255
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the highest level of schooling attained by the population in Greater Sydney in 2021 compared to Australia shows that there was a lower proportion of people who had left school at an early level (Year 10 or less) and a higher proportion of people who completed Year 12 or equivalent.

Overall, 24.6% of the population left school at Year 10 or below, and 64.5% went on to complete Year 12 or equivalent, compared with 28.0% and 56.8% respectively for Australia.

The major differences between the level of schooling attained by the population in Greater Sydney and Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who completed year 12 or equivalent (64.5% compared to 56.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who completed year 11 or equivalent (4.9% compared to 8.7%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who completed year 10 or equivalent (15.4% compared to 17.9%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the level of schooling attained by the population in Greater Sydney, between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • Year 12 or equivalent (+400,118 persons)
  • Year 8 or below (-13,965 persons)
  • Year 10 or equivalent (-12,787 persons)
  • Year 11 or equivalent (+12,334 persons)

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